Tourmalines occur in two main types of geological environments; igneous rocks, particularly in granites and pegmatites and metamorphic rocks such as schists and marbles. Tourmalines have scientific significance providing information on the thermal and fluid history of the rocks in which they form and are an important component in the boron cycle on Earth.
Tourmalines are also cut as gemstones and used in jewelry.
Kenneth Hollmann (1943-2005) was born and raised in Rutland, Vermont. He obtained his higher education at nearby Castleton State College where he majored in geology. He had a 30-year career as a chemical analyst with General Electric in Rutland. He passed away at home in January 2005.
His interest in minerals began at the age of 12 when he received a boxed set of rocks, a microscope and Frederick Pough’s Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals. His collection consists of specimens from throughout the world, but the minerals of the Northwest Adirondack Mining District held a special place with him. He spent many hours there with local collectors and miners and built a very impressive suite of minerals from that area. The highlights of that collection are on display in this case.
The New York State Museum would like to thank the Hollmann family for making the collection available to us. Acquisition funding was provided by New York State, the New York State Academy of Mineralogy and a generous donor. We wish to especially thank William Metropolis of the Harvard Mineralogical Museum for his tireless and extraordinary efforts in helping to secure the Hollmann collection.
Dr. Steven C. Chamberlain (b.1946) is a retired Professor of Bioengineering and Neuroscience. He is a consulting editor on Rocks and Minerals Magazine, co-chairman of The Rochester Mineralogical Symposium and the volunteer curator of the Oren C. Root Collection at Hamilton College. He is a noted mineralogical researcher, collector and photographer whose works are widely published.
Mr. Kurowski utilized many of his finds as raw material for his gem and jewelry hobby. Examples of some of his lapidary work can be found in this case, as well as, the nearby Gems of New York case.
Mr. Kurowski successfully ran a television and radio repair business for many years in New Hartford, New York where he resided with his wife and two daughters. He spent many of his spare hours hunting the back roads for interesting mineral localities and compiled a large mineral collection as well as extensive knowledge of the state's mineral resources.
He has generously shared this information with us over the years by volunteering as a Museum field assistant. His dedication to mineralogy and his continuing commitment to the New York State Museum serve as a constant inspiration to our staff.
What do a billiard ball, an automobile and a ceramic cookie jar have in common?
......all of these are made with New York minerals!
Our 2500 mines produce an amazing variety of products.
Each year, every New Yorker uses more than 41,000 pounds of newly mined mineral materials.
New York's sand, gravel, and crushed stone are used to build and maintain roads, schools, hospitals, airports, and houses.
Halite is mined for food, medicine, and road salt.
Garnet is mined in the Adirondacks to use for sandpaper, polishing glass and metal, and water filtration.
Limestone is mined in eastern New York to produce cement - the backbone of many construction projects.
Brick manufacturers mine clay in the Hudson River Valley.
Lead and silver are by-products of zinc mines in the northwest Adirondacks.
Granite, slate, and sandstone are mined in several parts of the state for use as building stone.
Wollastonite is an ingredient in billiard balls, electrical panels, and automotive parts.
Zinc is used in every car tire and as a coating to prevent steel from rusting. Talc is mined for filler and ceramics.